Type justifying means



Julyv 17, 1934. J. Q. SHERMAN TYPE JUSTIFYING MEANS Filed Feb. 5, 1951iv J Patented Julyl7, 1934 1,967,194 I ms JUSTIFYING MEANS John Q.Sherman, Dayton, Ohio Application February 5 15 Claims.

This invention relates to type setting and more particularly to meansand a method for justifying lines of set type whereby the length ofsucceeding lines may be accurately equalized. The present type andmethod of justiflcation is more especially adapted for use inconjunction with type setting machines of the key board type used forsetting individual type for multigraphing or letter duplicating machinesbut which are also used for setting book printing type and. the like.

In the setting of type it is quite impossible to prejudge the exactlength of lines of set matter which because of varying dimensions ofdifferent type and different lengths of words and intermediate spacingdiffer somewhat in length and would present a ragged and unsightlyappearance upon a printed page. In hand setting of indi vidual type itis customary to justify the lines by filling in additional quads orspace elements between words after the setting of the lines is completedto render the line tight by filling out and extending the line to apredetermined length.

In the present method of justiflcation the line of set type iscontracted after completion to the desired dimension by squeezing thetype comprising the set line more closely together instead ofintroducing additional quads or space elements as has heretofore beenthe common practice. To this end in the present embodiment of theinvention, spacer means are provided intermediate succeeding typeadapted to be compressed or collapsed under pressure or which may beembedded in the adjacent face of the succeeding type body toproportionally shorten the line of set matter.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the justification of linesof set type whereby the span-- in: between successive type may besubstantially equally distributed throughout the line thus avoiding theunsightly appearance of enlarged intermediate spaces.

.A further object of the invention is to provide means wherebyjustification of lines of set type may be quickly and accuratelyeffected.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of typebody having integral means for effecting justification of a set line oftyp A further object of the invention is to provide an improved methodof justifying lines of set type by contracting or squeezing an extendedline into a line of given dimension.

A further object of the invention is to provide contractable spacermeans intermediate individual type of a series.

A further object of the invention is to provide 1931, Serial No. 513,737

means yvhereby a series of individual type may be laterally interlockedwith each other.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification the invention consists of the featuresof construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode ofoperation, or their equivalents, as hereinafterdescribed and set forthin the claims. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown the preferred butobviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an individual type body of the stylecommonly used for multigraphing or multi-letter'prlnting apparatus andordinarily set by type setting machines of the key board-type. On thistype body there are illustrated' laterally projecting spacer means forengagement with the adjacent face of a succeeding type body. Fig. 2 is aplan view of a series of such type elements of varying dimension set ina line. Fig. 3 illustrates several series of such type elementsassembled in a chase. perspective view of a compression plunger by whichthe series of type comprising the line are squeezed. Fig. 5 is a planview of a justifying press employing a series of plungers forsimultaneously engaging and compressing an equal number of lines of settype whereby such lines will be contracted to, uniform length. Fig. 6 isa top plan view of two type bodies embodying a modification of theconstruction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailview of the modification shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is another view of themodification disclosed in'F'ig. 6. Fig. 9 discloses a modified form ofspacer. Like parts are indicated by similar characters of referencethroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 1-1 are type bodies to be assembled in linesfor printing purposes. For illustrative purposes but with no intent tolimit the scope of the invention, these type bodies have beenillustrated as being of a conventional shape especially adapted formachine setting and such as are ordinarily employed in multigraphing ormulti-letter printing apparatus. It is to be understood. however, thatthe invention is not limited to this style or shape of type body, butmay be applied to various forms of printing type. In the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 each of the type bodies 1 isprovided upon one lateral face thereof with a series of projecting ribsor beads 2-2, which for convenience have been shown as prismatic ortriangular form but which may be of any other suit- Fig.4isaable ordesired shape. These projecting ribs or beads 2 form spacers betweensucceeding type bodies 1 when assembled in a succession or line of settype, thus slightly separating the individual type one from the other.The spacer beads or ribs 2 bear against the lateral face of the adjacenttype element as is illustrated in Fig. 2. The assembled line of typewould be slightly longer than the prescribed dimension. The assembly oftype comprising the set line is then subjected to compression in alineal direction whereby the spacer ribs or beads 2 are either distortedor collapsed to greater or less degree intermediate succeeding typebodies if the material of the type is comparatively soft or if of hardercharacter the sharpened edges of the spacer beads or ribs 2 will. beembedded to greater or less extent within the lateral face of theadjacent type body thus per mitting the type bodies to approach onetoward the other. While the degree of approach or contraction of theintermediate space between any two succeeding type elements will beexceedingly small, this contraction is however, cumulative throughoutthe length of the line and thus by compression the line may becontracted to a rather marked degree. The degree of contraction will ofnecessity be dependent upon the pressure applied to the line of settype.

In setting the type of the style illustrated they are assembled in aslotted chase 4, which may be the cylinder or the bed of the printingapparatus. To contract the lines of set type to uniform length, plungers5 are introduced into the slots of the chase with thrust pressureagainst the type assembly. To facilitate the uniform justification orcontraction of several lines of set type, plungers 5 are preferablycarried upon a movable head 6 operated by an eccentric 7 or otheractuator means. This movable head 6 is mounted upon a table or bed plate8 having abutment rails 9 thereon within which the slotted chase i ispositioned.

In lieu of distorting or collapsing the spacing ribs or beads 2 bycompression or causing such beads or ribs to be embedded in the plainfiat face of the adjacent type body, the latter may be formed withrecesses or grooves to receive the spacer ribs 2 as is indicated at 11in Figs. 6 and 7.-

These grooves or recesses as illustrated in the drawing are ofsubstantially V shape but of slightly difierent angularity than that ofthe spacer ribs or beads 2. Thus the edges of the prismatic ribs orbeads 2 of one type element will enter within the sockets or receivinggrooves 11 of the succeeding type element but will bear upon theshoulders or edges of such receiving grooves 11. This affords aninterlocking or interengaging coupling between succeeding type elementsby which the types are held against lateral displacement. As pressure isapplied to contract the line of assembled type, the ribs or beads areforced more deeply within the recess or groove 11 to compensate forcontraction of the line under pressure. However at any point in thiscontractive adjustment there will be firm interlocking connectionbetween adjacent type elements of the series.

In order that the distorted ribs or beads 2 may not project beyond theprinting face of the type, and in order that they may not distort theprinting face of the adjacent type element in which they may beembedded, the spacer ribs or beads 2 "vidual type body, gtrrismatic,corrugated, or other meme i forms of compressible separate spacerelements may be introduced between succeeding type body. as isillustrated in Fig. 9. Such intermediate spacer 3.2 would be of suchcharacter as to yield under pressure to' permit a gradual approach oiadjacent type bodies. Whereas ordinarily type lines are justiiied byextension through addi' 'tional uads or spaces introduced between worthe present method effects justification by col traction of an initiallyextended. line. The r" tferential spacing is uniformly distributedthroughout the line whereby no space of excessive length results.Whereas ordinarily the differential spacing is effected only betweenwords and usually between a few words, resulting in uneven and.unsightly spacing. In the present instance the differential spacing iseffected between type bodies uniformly throughout the em tire line.

The sharp edges of the spacer ribs 2-2 af o minimum initial resistanceto the squeezing c traction of the line whether the edges of the spacerribs are thrust into the succeeding type or are collapsed or distortedtherebetween. ihe resistance of succeeding spacers is substantiallyuniform and hence the yielding adjustment of the line is equallydistributed. The resistance of the spacer ribs 2 between succeeding typegradually increases as the line is contracted, such in crease of theseries. In some instances the contractive adjustment is somewhatprogressive, the sharpened edge of one spacer either yielding orentering the next type body until the increasing resistance due to the Vshape of the spacer exceeds that of the sharpened edge of the spacer ofthe type whereupon such contractive adjustment is repeated progressivelythroughout the line. Under other conditions the spacers of succeedingtype yield to the lineal pressure simultaneously,

and to substantially the same degree. While the resistance tocontractive pressure increases due to the shape and bulk of the spacerssuch increased resistance is substantially uniform throughout the line.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in. language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect and the invention is there fore claimed in any of its formsor modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope or" the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A series of printing type arranged in a line including at least twotype, one of which has a laterally extending integral spacer andengageable with the adjacent type body to relatively separate the typebodies in a line of set type, the engaged body having depressions in theengaged face thereof of somewhat less dimension than the engagingspacer, into which the spacer normally projects, and into which it maybe forced more Li-Ll deeply by pressure to proportionately shorten a.line of set type.

a. The combination with a series of printing type arranged in a line, ofintermediate spacers normally slightly separating the type one fromanother one of said spacers being offset with respect to a linedetermined by two of said spacers carried upon the same type, said lineof type being compressible against the resistance of the interposedspacers to shorten in line to a predetermined dimension.

3. A series of printing type arranged successively in a set line oftype, integral lateral proproportionately shortened.

ill

till

it, it. series oi printing type arranged successively in a set line oftype, integral lateral projections on individual type of the seriesengaging with lateral iaces oi adjacent type in such line to relativelyspace the type one from. another at least two oi said spacers carried bya single type lying in a line parallel to the printing surface, the saidprojections being deiormable and capable oi yielding to greater or lessdegree in accordance with pressure applied collectively to the line oiline will be proportionately shortened.

b. it series pi printing type arranged succes sively in a set line oitype, integral lateral projections on individual type oi the seriesengaging with lateral iaces oi adjacent type in such line to relativelyspace the type one from another, the engaged iaces having thereinreceiving depressions oi somewhat diderent contour into which theprojections are iorced to greater or less depth by pressure applied tothe line oi type'in the direction oi its extent to proportionatelyshorten the line. 1

dustiiying means ior lines oi set type, comprising collapsible spacerbodies interposed between succeeding type bodies contained in the lineoi type said succeeding type bodies having misiitting recesses iorreceiving said spacers, said bodies being capable oi being embedded togreater or less degree in adjacent recesses under pressure to shortenthe line oitype to the required dension. 1

"i. dustiiying bans ior lines oi set type in- 'clug a plurality oideioable spacer means d. it series'oi printing type arrangedsuccessively in a set line including, a type b and a pluralitypideiormable projections upon a lateral iace of the body engageable withan adjacent type body in a line oi type some oi the projections carriedby a single type being located in a line forming an acute angle withrespect to the plane of the printing surface, said projec- I tionschanging their shape under pressure applied to the type bodies to permitthe-approach of the bodies one toward the other to shorten a series oftype to a predetermined dimension.

9. A series of printing type arranged successively in a set line of typeincluding, a type body,

and laterally extending spacers carried by the type body two of saidspacers lying in a plane forming an acute angle with the line of type,said spacers being engageable with an adjacent type body to relativelyseparate the type bodies in a line of set time, said spacers beingcapable of being embedded to greater or less extent in the engaged faceof the adjacent type body by pressure to effect a proportionateshortening oi a line of set type to a required dimension.

10. The herein described method of justiiy ing a line oi set typeconsisting in initially separating the type in the set line byinterposed spacers engaging misfitting recesses in the adjacent type,and thereafter squeezing the set line in the direction oi its extentagainst the resistance of the interposed spacers to cause a.proportionate approach oi the type toward each other until the line oftype is contracted to the required dimension. 0

ii. The herein described method of justiiying a line oi type consistingin initially spacing the type one irom another in the line by interposedspacers engaging misfitting suriaces and thereafter simultaneouslyreducing the intervening spaces between the succession of typecomprising the line until the e is contracted to the desired ension.

l2. A series oi telescopically adjustable printing type, includingprojections upon one lateral iace oi .each type member and ishttingsocirets in the opposite lateral face into which the projections oi anadjacent type member extend, said a type members being relativelyadjustable to vary the extent oi a set line oi such type.

it. it. type body including a plurality oi subofiset with respect to a epassing through two oi the elements.

it. A series oi printingtype arranged successively in a set line oitype, a plurality oi' integral lateral projections on individual type oithe series engaging with lateral iaces oi adjacent type in such linetorelatively space the type irom one another, the projections oi each typebeing wedge shaped and'adapted to be embedded to a greater or lessextent in the engaged iace oi the adjacent type by pressure appliedcollectively to a line oi type in the direction oi its extent wherebythe line will be proportionately shortened, the

till ill) its

wedge shape of the projections causing the projections to iailprogressively and on the series simultaneously in response to increasingpressure as the distance between adjacent type decreases due to theprogressive increasing cross section area oi the spacers, theprojections being arranged so as to provide contact with an adjacenttype body upon laterally spaced-apart lines extending an appreciableextent and in the general direction irorn the face toward the bottom oithe type body whereby to preclude roclring movement oi one type bodyupon the projections oi the adjacent type body.

15. A series of printing type arranged successively in a set line oftype, a plurality oi integral lateral projections on individual type ofthe series engaging with lateral faces of adjacent type in such line torelatively space the type from one another, the projections oi each typebeing of memee lines extending an appreciable extent and in the generaldirection from the face toward the bot tom of the type body whereby topreclude rooking movement of one type body upon the projeo tions of theadjacent type body.

JOHN Q. SHIEMAN.

